Direction indicator



Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,579

a. CUMMINGS DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Nov. 26. 1926 INVENTOR wnmzsses Gga/mffl GuMMm/aa @ia/ BY M. ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 192.7.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. CUMMINGS, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO EVEB-ITE SIGNAL COMPANY, OF. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.,

DIRECTION INDICATOR.

. Application filed November 26, 1926. Serial No. 150,824.

This invention relates to direction indicators for automobiles, and relates particularly to direction indicators of the type disclosed in United StatesLettersPatent No. 1,470,617, grantedto me.

Some of the objects of the present invention are: to improve the construction of direction indicators of the character mentioned;-jto' facilitate the assemblage of the parts; to lowerthe cost of manufacture; and

to render devices ofthis character more reliable in operation, and easier to operate.

Thenaturs of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will appear when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the direction indicator supported from a windshield of an automobile, a portion of the Windshield be ing shown, and the indicator being in nonindicating condition. v

Fig. 2. is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the. indicator in an indicating condition.

Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. 2, on an enlarged scale, with one of the casing sections removed.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, with one section of the casing removed.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View V taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an inside view of one of the sec-.

tions of the casing. v

Fig. 7 is'adetail sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Generally stated, the direction indicator of &&

the present invention comprises an indicating member, a casing, means for supporting the casing for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, means carried by the casing sup-' porting the indicating member for pivotal movement with respectto the easing into and out ofthe same, means for effecting the pivotal movement'of the casing, means for effecting the pivotal movement oft-he indicating member in response to the operation of the'nieans which effects the pivotal movement of the casing, and means which limits the movement of the casing to substantially" ninety degrees in opposite directions to insure the disposition of the casing either horizontally or vertically.

Referrin now more particularly the several views of the drawing, it will be apparent that, there is shown at 10 a portion 1 of the left hand post of a windshield of an automobile. Extending substantially laterally and horizontally from the post" 10 and secured thereto, and braced'as at 11Iis' an partly through both ends of the casing as at 17. The sections 14 and 15 of the casing are det-achably held together by a spacer 18 which receives the screws 19 in threaded bores 1n the spacer 18, the screws 19 extending through portions of the sections 14 and 15 respectively at one end, and a combined spacer and bushing 20 wh1ch accommodates screws 21 in a threaded bore, the screws 21 extending through portions of the sections '14 and 15 respectively at the opposite end.

of the casing.

' The means for supporting the casing 13 for pivotal movement consists of a bushing" 22 which extend'sthrough the arm 12'and the section 14 of the casing centrally thereof, and a screw 23 threaded into a bore in the bushing 22, there being a suitable washer 24 arranged between the arm 12 and the headof the screw 23.

The means for effecting the pivotal movement of the casing includes a bell crank lever 25 carried by the post 10, the fulcrum ofthev lever being indicate-d at 26'and the said lever having a knob 27.. A rod or connecting member 28 is employed and is pivotally connected as at 29 to the lever '25, and said connecting member 28 is pivotally connected as at 30 to a plate 31 which is secured in any suitable manner to the section 14 of the easing 13. The pivot 30 may extend through the section 14, as well as through the plate 31. In thatcase it will not be necessary to secure the plate 31' tothe section 14. 'The plate 31 has a-bos1s 32 which reducesfric- 'tion. The'provision of the plate 31 with the boss 32 serves tomaintainthe casing 13 in spaced relationship with respect to the arm 12.' f

An indicating member 33 is provided which has one end thereof shaped to simu late a hand and havin a pointing index finger 34.- The end of tlie indicating them space 16 of the casing '13, and is adapted to move in the space 17 provided between. the sections 141 and 15. It Will therefore be obvious that the. indicating member at times will be housed and be protected from. the elements or" Weather. The indicating memher 33 may also be extended shown in Figs, 2 and, 3. externally of the casing 13,

thefcasing 13con'1bining therewith to bring the indicating member out a conslderable distance, so as to be, disposed in a conspicuous position to operators of vehicles behind.

The means serving for effecting the. movement oft-he indicatingmember, 33. to the indicating position externally of the casing 13,. anditor effecting the movement of the indicating member to the non-indicating position Within the casing 13, includes a gear 35,,in the present instance formed integral With thebushing 22. This gear 35 is held stationary by pins 36 carried by the arm 12.

s The gear, 35 may be held in anyother Way againstturning movement. Gear 37 isemployed and i'smounted for rotation on a stub shatt'38, carried by the: casing section 14.

The gear 37 meshes withthe gear-35, and is an idler. A third gear 39 is securedin any suitable. manner to the indicating; member 33.. The gear 39 rotates on, a portion of the bushing 20 and withthe shoulder 40: on the bushing 20 serves to, maintain; the indicating member 33 properly disposed, so as to move into and out ofthe space 17. The. gear 39 meshes With the idler gear 37. It

follows, that when the casing 13 is moved, movement Will-be imparted to the indicating .member 33 by virtue of the intervention of the gears 35, 3'1? and 39. Thedirection of movement of the indicating member 33 is dependentupon the direction of movement of the casing 13. VVhen the casing 13 is moved to a horizontally disposed position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the indicating member 33, will be moved externally of the.

casing 13 to an indicating position, whereas, when the casing 13 is moved toga ver-* tically disposed position-as shown in Figs.

'1 and 4c, theindicating member 33 Will be.- to be dismoved in an opposite direction posed Within the; casing 13.. s

The means for limiting the movement. of

the casing 13, substantially to ninetyde'grees,

and to insure its being brought toeither a: horizontally disposed position or to: a} verher, an idler gear-carried. by the casing in tically disposed positi on,',consists. off the pins 36 hereinbefore mentioned. The pins 36 extend respectively through arcuate slots 41 in the section 1 1 of thecasing 13;. Each 7 pin 36' engages the opposite end; Walls of its slot 41 for the limiting action. Attention is called to the fact that the indicating member 33 Will also be limited in its movements in virtue of the employment of the pins 36, because the amount of movement of the gears 37 and 39'is controlled, inaccordance' with the amount of movement of the casing 13-. v i i i The section 15 of thecasing 13 is-the rear section, and has, arranged. thereon a; mirror} 42 for the. usual purposes. s

Fromjthe foregoing, it: will be apparent that, by manipulating theknoh 2.7. it is possible. m bring about the desired signaling operations to indicate to operators. of fel lowing vehicles the course tolbe follovvd'by the operator of the; signaling automobile; and that, the signaling or indicating;opera tions: will be carried. outv byfa. simple: and

practical device, which willlbe neliable,', and which will be easy to operate,

I claim: i

1. In a direction, indicator, a "movable casing, an indicating, member, means.fcar-.

ried by the. casing supporting the indicating member for pivotal movement, said indicating member. adaptedto move into and out of said. casing, through an opening in. the casing, a gear carried by the indicating mom mesh With. the first mentioned gear, a. gear surrounding the pivot of the casing, secured against rotational movement, and in mesh with the idler gear. a U 2. A direction indicator comprising a, cas ing,,means supporting the casing for movement, an indicating member, means on the casing supporting the indicating member for movement, said indicating member adapted tomove into and out. of the casing through an opening in the casing, means for etl'ectingthe movement of the casing consisting of a lever anda member pivotally connected with the lever. and the caslng;

and meansoperated by the movement of the casing for eflecting the. movement of the indicating member into and outof the easing consisting of a. gear carried by. the indicating member, anjidler gear, rot-atably car-;

ried by the casing, saididler, gear being in mesh with the first mentionedgear, and

a gear surrounding the pivot of the casing secured against rotational -movement, and in mesh with the idler ear. ,m H" storage A. CUMMINGS. T 

